U.S. patent number 10,703,663 [Application Number 15/463,337] was granted by the patent office on 2020-07-07 for operating mechanism for a glassware forming machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.. Invention is credited to Robin L Flynn.
United States Patent |
10,703,663 |
Flynn |
July 7, 2020 |
Operating mechanism for a glassware forming machine
Abstract
A mold operating mechanism to open and close molds of a
glassware forming machine. The mechanism includes a drivetrain
assembly including a frame, a gearset carried by the frame and
configured to be driven by a powertrain assembly, at least one
operating shaft carried by the frame and driven by the gearset, and
at least one linkage operatively coupled to the operating shaft and
configured to be operatively coupled to a mold carrier carrying at
least a portion of one or more molds. The mechanism includes
further a fluid cylinder disposed proximate the linkage and
including at least one piston rod operatively coupled to the
linkage, wherein as the linkage rotates, the piston rod is pulled
outward from the cylinder, and the cylinder is dragged outwardly,
and whereafter the cylinder is pressurized with fluid to push the
piston rod further outward to apply clamping pressure to the
linkage.
Inventors: |
Flynn; Robin L (Waterville,
OH) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. |
Perrysburg |
OH |
US |
|
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Assignee: |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container
Inc. (Perrysburg, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
61768492 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/463,337 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180265389 A1 |
Sep 20, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C03B
9/353 (20130101); C03B 9/3537 (20130101); C03B
9/41 (20130101); C03B 9/403 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C03B
9/353 (20060101); C03B 9/40 (20060101); C03B
9/41 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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WO2013/040510 |
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Mar 2013 |
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WO |
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Other References
International Search Report and Written Opinion, Int. Serial No.
PCT/US2018/021435, Int. Filing Date: Mar. 8, 2018, Applicant:
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc., dated Jun. 19, 2018. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Hoffmann; John M
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A method of actuating a mold operating mechanism, comprising the
steps of: pushing a mold carrier of the mold operating mechanism
outwardly along an axis to a closed position, thereby causing a
piston rod to be pulled outwardly from a cylinder of the mold
operating mechanism along a cylinder axis transverse to the axis
along which the mold carrier is pushed and causing the cylinder to
be dragged outwardly in the same direction in which the mold
carrier moves; and pressurizing the cylinder to push the piston rod
to apply clamping pressure to the mold carrier in the closed
position of the mold carrier.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pushing step comprises a
motor operatively coupled to the mold carrier pushing the mold
carrier outwardly.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pushing step comprises a
powertrain assembly including the motor and a gearbox pushing the
mold carrier outwardly.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pushing step comprises a
drivetrain assembly operatively coupled to the mold carrier and
driven by the powertrain assembly and including a gearset and an
operating shaft coupled to the gearset pushing the mold carrier
outwardly.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the pressurizing step is carried
out by pressurizing the cylinder to push the piston rod to apply
clamping pressure to a linkage coupled between the mold carrier and
the operating shaft of the drivetrain assembly.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein pressurizing the cylinder
comprises activating a fluid source fluidly coupled to the cylinder
to supply fluid to the cylinder thereby pressurizing the
cylinder.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein pressurizing the cylinder
comprises activating a fluid source to supply fluid to the cylinder
to thereby pressurize the cylinder.
8. A method of actuating a mold operating mechanism, comprising the
steps of: activating a powertrain assembly of the mold operating
mechanism to rotate an operating shaft of a drivetrain assembly of
the mold operating mechanism to thereby rotate a linkage coupled to
the operating shaft and to a mold carrier of the mold operating
mechanism and thereby push the mold carrier outwardly along an axis
to a closed position, thereby causing a piston rod to be pulled
outwardly from a cylinder of the mold operating mechanism along a
cylinder axis transverse to the axis along which the mold carrier
is pushed and causing the cylinder to be dragged outwardly in the
same direction in which the mold carrier moves; and pressurizing
the cylinder to push the piston rod to apply clamping pressure to
the linkage and, thus, to the mold carrier in the closed position
of the mold carrier.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pressurizing step results in
the piston rod applying clamping pressure to a knuckle of the
linkage, wherein the knuckle is pivotably coupled to a first lever
arm coupled to the operating shaft and to a second lever arm
coupled to the mold carrier.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein pressurizing the cylinder
comprises activating a fluid source fluidly coupled to the cylinder
to supply fluid to the cylinder thereby pressurizing the
cylinder.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein pressurizing the cylinder
comprises activating a fluid source to supply fluid to the cylinder
to thereby pressurize the cylinder.
Description
The present disclosure is directed to glassware manufacturing and,
more particularly, to operating mechanisms of glassware forming
machines that are used to open and close molds of a glassware
forming machine.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
Glassware forming machines typically employ one or more
motor-driven mold operating mechanisms to open and close molds or
blanks of the glassware forming machine. Each operating mechanism
may include, for example and among other components, a mold carrier
carrying at least a portion of one or more molds or blanks. In an
example, the glassware forming machine may include two such
operating mechanisms that are configured and operable to work
together to open the molds or blanks of the machine by moving the
respective mold carriers thereof away from one another along a
linear path, and to close the molds or blanks by moving the mold
carriers toward one another along the same linear path. In other
words, the operating mechanisms may comprise parallel open and
close type mechanisms that move portions of the molds or blanks
toward and away from each other along parallel paths.
A general object of the present disclosure, in accordance with one
aspect of the disclosure, is to provide a motor-driven mold
operating mechanism for a glassware forming machine that allows for
an increased clamping force to be applied to one or more components
of the mold operating mechanism once the mold carrier has reached a
closed position.
The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be
implemented separately from, or in combination with, each
other.
In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a
fluid-assisted, motor-driven, mold operating mechanism to open and
close molds of a glassware forming machine that open away from one
another and close toward one another. The operating mechanism
includes: a base frame; guide blocks and bearings mounted on the
base frame; and a mold carrier carrying at least a portion of one
or more molds and slidably coupled to the base frame via the guide
blocks and bearings. The operating mechanism includes further a
powertrain assembly and a drivetrain assembly. The drivetrain
assembly is carried between the guide blocks mounted on the base
frame and includes: a gearset carried by the base frame and
operatively coupled to and driven by the powertrain assembly;
operating shafts carried by the base frame and operatively coupled
to and driven by the gearset; and linkages operatively coupled to
the operating shafts and to the mold carrier. The operating
mechanism includes still further a dual piston fluid cylinder
disposed between the linkages and including dual piston rods
operatively coupled to the linkages, wherein the powertrain
assembly rotates the linkages, thereby pushing the mold carrier
outwardly, pulling the piston rods outward from the dual piston
cylinder, and dragging the cylinder outwardly, and whereafter, the
cylinder is pressurized with fluid to push the piston rods further
outward to apply clamping pressure to the linkages to force the
mold carrier to a closed position.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is
provided a fluid-assisted, motor-driven, mold operating mechanism
to open and close molds of a glassware forming machine that open
away from one another and close toward one another. The operating
mechanism includes: a base frame; at least one guide block and
bearing mounted on the base frame; and a mold carrier carrying at
least a portion of one or more molds and slidably coupled to the
base frame via the at least one guide block and bearing. The
operating mechanism includes further a powertrain assembly and a
drivetrain assembly. The drivetrain assembly is mounted on the base
frame and includes: a gearset carried by the base frame and
operatively coupled to and driven by the powertrain assembly; at
least one operating shaft operatively coupled to and driven by the
gearset; and at least one linkage operatively coupled to the at
least one operating shaft and to the mold carrier. The operating
mechanism includes still further a fluid cylinder disposed
proximate the at least one linkage and including at least one
piston rod operatively coupled to the at least one linkage, wherein
the powertrain assembly rotates the at least one linkage, thereby
pushing the mold carrier outwardly, pulling the at least one piston
rod outward from the cylinder, and dragging the cylinder outwardly,
and whereafter, the cylinder is pressurized with fluid to push the
at least one piston rod further outward to apply clamping pressure
to the at least one linkage to force the mold carrier to a closed
position.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a fluid-assisted,
motor-driven, mold operating mechanism to open and close molds of a
glassware forming machine that open away from one another and close
toward one another is provided. The operating mechanism includes a
drivetrain assembly including: a frame; a gearset carried by the
frame and configured to be driven by a powertrain assembly; at
least one operating shaft carried by the frame and operatively
coupled to and driven by the gearset; and at least one linkage
operatively coupled to the at least one operating shaft and
configured to be operatively coupled to a mold carrier carrying at
least a portion of one or more molds. The operating mechanism
includes further a fluid cylinder disposed proximate the at least
one linkage and including at least one piston rod operatively
coupled to the at least one linkage, wherein as the at least one
linkage rotates, the at least one piston rod is pulled outward from
the cylinder, and the cylinder is dragged outwardly, and
whereafter, the cylinder is pressurized with fluid to push the at
least one piston rod further outward to apply clamping pressure to
the at least one linkage.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure, there is
provided a method of actuating a motor-driven mold operating
mechanism to open and close molds of a glassware forming machine
that open away from one another and close toward one another. The
method includes causing a mold carrier carrying at least a portion
of one or more molds to move outwardly, and as the mold carrier
moves outwardly, pulling at least one piston rod operatively
coupled to the mold carrier outward from a fluid cylinder, and
dragging the cylinder outwardly in the same direction in which the
mold carrier moves. The method includes further determining when
the mold carrier has reached a predetermined position, and when it
is determined that the mold carrier has reached that predetermined
position, pressurizing the cylinder to push the at least one piston
rod further outward to apply clamping pressure to the mold carrier
to force the mold carrier into a closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The disclosure, together with additional objects, features,
advantages and aspects thereof, will be best understood from the
following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram and schematic view of an illustrative
embodiment of a system for use with a glassware forming machine in
accordance with the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of
a mold operating mechanism of the system illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the mold operating mechanism
illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a
drivetrain assembly of the mold operating mechanism illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3;
FIG. 5 is top plan view of a portion of the mold operating
mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the mold carrier of
the mechanism is in an open position;
FIG. 6 is another top plan view of a portion of the mold operating
mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the mold carrier of
the mechanism is in a closed position;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the drivetrain
assembly illustrated in FIG. 4 and a fluid cylinder of the mold
operating mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3; and
FIGS. 8 and 9 are flow diagrams illustrating an illustrative
embodiment of a method of actuating a mold operating mechanism, for
example, the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1-7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a system 10 for
use with a glassware forming machine. The system 10 includes, among
other components, one or more motor-driven mold operating
mechanisms 12 configured and operable to open or close molds or
blanks of the glassware forming machine, and an electronic control
unit 14 configured and operable to control the operation of one or
more components of the mold operating mechanism(s) 12. The system
10 may be used to form glassware in a glass-forming process. The
glassware may include, for example, bottles, jars, jugs, growlers,
or another suitable container. More particularly, the system 10 may
be used to carry an article of glassware through one or more steps
of a glassware forming process from, for example, blank molding of
a parison to releasing a fully-formed container on a dead plate or
on any other suitable ware handler at a downstream end of the
forming process.
In an embodiment, the system 10 may include a single mold operating
mechanism 12, while in other embodiments, the system 10 may include
a plurality of such mechanisms. For example, in an embodiment, the
system 10 may include a pair of opposed operating mechanisms 12
that operate or work together to open and close molds or blanks of
the glassware forming machine that open away from one another and
close toward one another. For example, in an embodiment, the molds
or blanks of the machine may open away from one another along a
linear path and close toward one another along the same linear
path. In other embodiments, the molds or blanks may open and close
along a non-linear path, for example, an arcuate path (e.g., the
molds or blanks pivot or articulate between open and closed
positions) or another suitable non-linear path. Whether the system
10 includes one or multiple mold operating mechanisms 12, in the
embodiment illustrated in, for example, FIGS. 2 and 3, each mold
operating mechanism 12 includes a base frame 16, a mold manifold or
carrier 18, a powertrain assembly 20, a drivetrain assembly 22
(best shown in FIG. 5), and a fluid cylinder 24.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base frame 16 has a first end
26, a second end 28, and a longitudinal axis 30 extending between
and through the first and second ends 26, 28, and is configured and
adapted to allow other components of the operating mechanism 12 to
be mounted thereon. In an embodiment, the base frame 16 includes
one or more shoulders 32 upon which one or more other components of
the operating mechanism 12 may be mounted. For example, in the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base frame 16 includes
a pair of laterally-spaced shoulders 32.sub.1, 32.sub.2 each
configured to allow another component of the operating mechanism 12
to be mounted thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, one of the
shoulders 32.sub.1, 32.sub.2 is disposed or located at the first
end 26 of the base frame 16, while the other shoulder 32.sub.1,
32.sub.2 is disposed or located at the second end 28. In other
embodiments, rather than the shoulders 32.sub.1, 32.sub.2 being
disposed at the outermost ends 26, 28 of the base frame 16, one or
both may be disposed at a location on the base frame 16 between the
first and second ends 26, 28.
With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in an embodiment, the
mold carrier 18 of the operating mechanism 12 has a first end 34, a
second end 36, and a longitudinal axis 38 extending between and
through the first and second ends 34, 36 that, in the illustrated
embodiment, is parallel to the axis 30 of the base frame 16. The
mold carrier 18 carries at least a portion of one or more molds or
blanks 40 of the glassware forming machine and is slidably coupled
to the base frame 16. More particularly, in an embodiment, the mold
carrier 18 carries at a least a portion of each of a plurality of
axially-spaced molds 40, and may be slidably coupled to the base
frame 16 via one or more guide blocks 42 and corresponding bearings
mounted to and carried by the base frame 16. In the illustrated
embodiment, the operating mechanism 12 includes a pair of guide
blocks 42.sub.1, 42.sub.2, each of which is mounted to the base
frame 16, and a corresponding shoulder 32 thereof, in particular,
and each of which is configured to slidably mount the mold carrier
18 to the base frame 16. More specifically, each of the guide
blocks 42 and corresponding bearings allow for the mold carrier 18
to move or translate outwardly and inwardly relative to the base
frame 16 along an axis 44 that is perpendicular or transverse to
the longitudinal axes 30, 38 of the base frame 16 and mold carrier
18, respectively (i.e., the outward movement being away from the
base frame 16 and the inward movement being towards the base frame
16).
In general terms, the powertrain assembly 20 of the operating
mechanism 12 is configured and operable to drive the movement of
the mold carrier 18 to open and close the molds 40, and to apply or
supply clamping pressure when the operating mechanism 12, and the
mold carrier 18 thereof, in particular, is in a closed position
(i.e., when the molds 40 are closed). As best illustrated FIGS. 3
and 4, in an embodiment, the powertrain assembly 20 includes a
motor 46 (e.g., a servo motor). The motor 46 is configured and
operable to drive the movement of the mold carrier 18 and to supply
clamping pressure when the mold carrier 18 is in the closed
position. The powertrain assembly 20 may include further a
drivetrain coupling 48 operatively coupled to the output of the
motor 46 and, as will be described below, the drivetrain assembly
22 of the operating mechanism 12. The powertrain assembly 20 may
include still further a gearbox 50 operatively coupled to the motor
46. In an embodiment wherein the powertrain assembly 20 includes
the drivetrain coupling 48, the gearbox 50 may be operatively
coupled between the motor 46 and the drivetrain coupling 48. As
will be described in greater detail below, the powertrain assembly
20 is configured and operable to drive the drivetrain assembly 22
and to provide or supply clamping pressure to the mold carrier 18
when it is in the closed position. More specifically, the motor 46
or, in another embodiment, the combination of the motor 46 and
gearbox 50 (and/or the drivetrain coupling 48, if applicable), is
configured and operable to drive the rotation of one or more
components of the drivetrain assembly 22 that is/are operatively
coupled to the powertrain assembly 20 (e.g., the drivetrain
coupling 48). It will be understood that as used herein, the phrase
"operatively coupled" is intended to encompass both the direct
coupling of one component to another (e.g., the direct coupling of
the output of the motor 46 to a component of the drivetrain
assembly 22 or the drivetrain coupling 48), as well as the indirect
coupling of one component to another via one or more intermediate
components (e.g., the indirect coupling of the output of the motor
46 to a component of the drivetrain assembly 22 or the drivetrain
coupling 48 via or through the drivetrain coupling 48 and/or the
gearbox 50). Accordingly, two components that are "operatively
coupled" together may be either directly or indirectly coupled.
For purposes of illustration and clarity only, the description
below will be with respect to an embodiment wherein the powertrain
assembly 20 includes the drivetrain coupling 48. It will be
appreciated in view of the foregoing, however, that the present
disclosure is not intended to be limited to such an embodiment, but
rather embodiments wherein the powertrain assembly 20 does not
include a drivetrain coupling 48 (e.g., embodiments wherein the
motor 46 is directly coupled to a component of the drivetrain
assembly 22 or coupled thereto through a component other than the
drivetrain coupling 48) remain within the spirit and scope of the
disclosure.
Turning now to the drivetrain assembly 22, the drivetrain assembly
22 is carried by the base frame 16, and, in the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, carried between the guide blocks
42.sub.1, 42.sub.2 mounted on the base frame 16, in particular.
Accordingly, in an embodiment wherein the guide blocks 42.sub.1,
42.sub.2 are mounted on the shoulders 32.sub.1, 32.sub.2 of the
base frame 16, the drivetrain assembly 22 may be carried between
the shoulders 32.sub.1, 32.sub.2. With reference to FIG. 4, the
drivetrain assembly 22 may include a gearset 52, one or more
operating shafts 54 operatively coupled to the gearset 52, and one
or more linkages 56 (i.e., linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 described
below) operatively coupled to one or more corresponding operating
shafts 54 and the mold carrier 18. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 3, the drivetrain assembly 22 may include further a sub-frame
55 carried by the base frame 16 of the operating mechanism 12 and
adapted to carry one or more other components of the drivetrain
assembly 22 (e.g., the gearset 52 and operating shaft(s) 54). In
other embodiments, however, the drivetrain assembly 22 may not
include a sub-frame, but rather one or more of the components of
the drivetrain assembly 22 may be carried by the base frame 16 or
another component of the system 10. Additionally, in an embodiment,
the drivetrain assembly 22 may include still further a support
plate 57 coupled to the base frame 16 or, as illustrated in FIG. 3,
the sub-frame 55, to further support and carry one or more
components of the drivetrain assembly 22 (e.g., the operating
shaft(s) 54). In other embodiments, however, a support plate is not
included.
In any event, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the gearset 52 of the
drivetrain assembly 22 is operatively coupled to, and configured to
be driven by, the powertrain assembly 20. More particularly, in the
illustrated embodiment, the gearset 52 is coupled to the drivetrain
coupling 48 of the powertrain assembly 20, which, as briefly
described above, operatively couples the powertrain assembly 20 to
the drivetrain assembly 22. The gearset 52 may comprise one or a
plurality of individual gears. For example, in the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 4, the gearset 52 comprises four gears--a drive
gear 58, a first driven gear 60.sub.1, a second driven gear
60.sub.2, and an idler gear 62. In an embodiment, both the drive
gear 58 and the idler gear 62 comprise spur gears, while the driven
gears 60.sub.1, 60.sub.2 comprise sector gears, though the present
disclosure is not limited to any particular types of gears. As
depicted in FIG. 4, the drive gear 58 is coupled to the drivetrain
coupling 48 of the powertrain assembly 20, and thus, is driven by
the powertrain assembly 20. More particularly, in an embodiment,
the drive gear 58 is mounted on the drivetrain coupling 48 such
that the axes of rotation of the coupling 48 and drive gear 58 are
coaxial.
The drive gear 58 is configured and operable to drive the driven
gears 60.sub.1, 60.sub.2 and the idler gear 62 of the gearset 52.
More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the drive gear 58
is engaged with both the first driven gear 60.sub.1 and the idler
gear 62, and the teeth of the engaged gears are meshed with one
another. The idler gear 62 is also engaged with the second driven
gear 60.sub.2, and the teeth of those gears are meshed with one
another. Accordingly, and as will be described in greater detail
below, as the drive gear 58 is driven and rotated by the powertrain
assembly 20, the other gears of the gearset 52 also rotate by
virtue of their direct or indirect engagement with the drive gear
58.
While in the embodiment described above, the gearset 52 has four
gears (i.e., a drive gear, an idler gear, and a pair of driven
gears), the actual number of gears that the gearset 52 includes may
be dependent, at least in part, on the particular arrangement and
composition of the drivetrain assembly 22. For example, the number
of driven gears 60 required may be dependent upon the number of
operating shafts 54 and/or linkages 56 that the drivetrain assembly
22 includes (e.g., one driven gear 60 for each operating shaft 54
and/or linkage 56). Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the
gearset 52 may include more or fewer gears than that described
above, and therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to any
particular gearset composition or arrangement.
The drivetrain assembly 22 includes further one or more operating
shafts 54 (i.e., operating shafts 54.sub.1, 54.sub.2 described
below) operatively coupled to and between the gearset 52 and the
linkage(s) 56 of the assembly 22. Each operating shaft 54 has a
first (e.g., bottom) end 64, a second (e.g., top) end 66, and a
longitudinal axis 68 extending between and through the first and
second ends 64, 66. In an illustrative embodiment, the first end 64
of each operating shaft 54 is operatively coupled to a
corresponding driven gear 60 of the gearset 52, and, as will be
described in greater detail below, the second end 66 is operatively
coupled to a corresponding linkage 56 of the drivetrain assembly
22; though, in other embodiments, this arrangement may be
reversed.
The operating shaft(s) 54 and the driven gear(s) 60 may be
operatively coupled together in a number of suitable ways. For
example, in an embodiment, each driven gear 60 may include an
aperture sized and shaped to receive and hold therein a portion of
a corresponding operating shaft 54 (e.g., the first end 64 of the
operating shaft 54). Accordingly, in the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 4 wherein the drivetrain assembly 22 includes a pair of
operating shafts 54 (i.e., a first operating shaft 54.sub.1 and a
second operating shaft 54.sub.2), each of driven gears 60.sub.1,
60.sub.2 includes an aperture sized and shaped to receive and hold
a portion of a corresponding one of the operating shafts 54.sub.1,
54.sub.2 to operatively couple the operating shafts 54.sub.1,
54.sub.2 with the gearset 52. More particularly, the driven gear
60.sub.1 includes an aperture within which the first operating
shaft held to operatively couple the operating shaft 54.sub.1 to
the gearset 52, and the driven gear 60.sub.2 includes an aperture
within which the second operating shaft 54.sub.2 is held to
operatively couple the operating shaft 54.sub.2 to the gearset 52.
In any event, and as will be described in greater detail below, by
virtue of the operative coupling of the operating shaft(s) 54 to
the gearset 52, as the gearset 52 is driven by the powertrain
assembly 20, the operating shafts 54 are, in turn, driven or
rotated by the gearset 52.
Similar to the number of gears in the gearset 52, the number of
operating shafts 54 required may be dependent, at least in part, on
the number of driven gears 60 of the gearset 52 and/or linkages 56
that the drivetrain assembly 22 includes (e.g., one operating shaft
54 for each driven gear 60 and/or linkage 56). Accordingly, it will
be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to any
particular number of operating shafts 54.
As briefly described above, the drivetrain assembly 22 includes
further one or more linkages 56. Each linkage 56 is operatively
coupled to and between a corresponding operating shaft 54 and the
mold carrier 18 of the operating mechanism 12, and is configured
and operable to translate or transfer the rotation of the operating
shaft(s) 54 into movement of the mold carrier 18. Accordingly, in
the illustrative embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the linkages
56 are configured and operable to translate or transfer the
rotation of the operating shafts 54 into linear movement of the
mold carrier 18 along the axis 44. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 4, the drivetrain assembly 22 includes a first linkage
56.sub.1 and a second linkage 56.sub.2, with the first linkage
56.sub.1 being operatively coupled to the first operating shaft
54.sub.1 and the second linkage 56.sub.2 being operatively coupled
to the second operating shaft 54.sub.2. As illustrated in FIGS.
4-6, each of linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 includes a first lever arm
70 and a second lever arm 72. In an embodiment, the first lever
arms 70 are operatively coupled to the corresponding operating
shafts 54.sub.1, 54.sub.2, and the second lever arms 72 are
operatively coupled, and, in an embodiment, pivotally coupled, to
the mold carrier 18.
The first and second lever arms 70, 72 may be operatively coupled
to the operating shafts 54 and mold carrier 18, respectively, in
any number of suitable ways. For example, in an embodiment, the
first lever arms 70 may each include an aperture sized and shaped
to receive and hold therein a portion of the corresponding
operating shaft 54 (e.g., the second end 66 of the operating shaft
54). Accordingly, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the
lever arm 70 of the linkage 56.sub.1 includes an aperture within
which a portion of the first operating shaft 54.sub.1 is held to
operatively couple the operating shaft 54.sub.1 to the linkage
56.sub.1, and the lever arm 70 of the linkage 56.sub.2 includes an
aperture within which a portion of the second operating shaft
54.sub.2 is held to operatively couple the operating shaft 54.sub.2
to the linkage 56.sub.2.
With respect to the coupling of the second lever arm 72 of each
linkage 56 and the mold carrier 18, in the embodiment illustrated
in FIGS. 5 and 6, each lever arm 72 may include an aperture 71
(best shown in FIG. 4) that may be aligned with a corresponding
aperture in the mold carrier 18, and then a pin, rod, or another
suitable mechanical fastener 73 may be inserted into and through
the apertures 71 in the lever arm 72 and mold carrier 18 to
operatively couple the lever arm 72 to the mold carrier 18.
Accordingly, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, an aperture
71 in the lever arm 72 of each linkage 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 is
aligned with corresponding apertures in the mold carrier 18, and
then a pin, rod, or other suitable mechanical fastener 73 is
inserted into and through the apertures to couple the second lever
arms 72, and therefore the linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2, to the mold
carrier 18. In an embodiment wherein the lever arm 72 of each
linkage 56 is pivotally coupled to the mold carrier 18, needle
bearings may also be used to further facilitate the
rotation/pivoting of the second lever arm 72 relative to the mold
carrier 18.
In addition to being coupled to the mold carrier 18, the second
lever arm 72 of each linkage 56 is also coupled to the first lever
arm 70 of that linkage 56, and, in an embodiment, is pivotally
coupled to the first lever arm 70. The first and second lever arms
70, 72 may be coupled in any number of suitable ways. For example,
in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, apertures in the first and
second lever arms 70, 72 are aligned with one another and a pin,
rod, or other suitable mechanical fastener 74 is inserted therein
to form a center joint or knuckle 76 that enables or facilitates
the rotation or pivoting of the second lever arm 72 about the axis
of the pin 74--which, incidentally, is parallel to the longitudinal
axis 68 of the operating shaft 54 to which the linkage 56 is
coupled. In an embodiment, the center joint or knuckle 76 may also
include needle bearings to further facilitate the rotation/pivoting
of the second lever arm 72.
In any event, and as will be described in greater detail below, by
virtue of the operative coupling of the linkage(s) 56 to both the
operating shaft(s) 54 and the mold carrier 18, as the operating
shaft(s) 54 is/are driven or rotated by the gearset 52, the
linkage(s) 56 are, in turn, driven or rotated by the operating
shaft(s) 54, thereby causing, in the illustrated embodiment, the
mold carrier 18 to be pushed or pulled, depending on the direction
of the rotation, along the axis 44.
While the embodiment illustrated in, for example, FIG. 4 includes a
pair of linkages 56, the actual number of linkages required may be
dependent, at least in part, on the number of driven gears 60 of
the gearset 52 and/or operating shafts 54 that the drivetrain
assembly 22 includes (e.g., one linkage 56 for each driven gear 60
and/or operating shaft 54). Accordingly, it will be appreciated
that the present disclosure is not limited to any particular number
of linkages 56.
With particular reference to FIGS. 5-7, in addition to the
components described above, the illustrated embodiment of the
operating mechanism 12 includes further the fluid cylinder 24. The
cylinder 24 may be slidably mounted to the base frame 16 of the
operating mechanism 12 or, if applicable and as illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6 (as well as FIG. 3), the sub-frame 55 of the
drivetrain assembly 22, and is mounted proximate the linkage(s) 56
of the drivetrain assembly 22. Further, in the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 wherein the drivetrain assembly 22
includes two linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2, the cylinder 24 may be
mounted between the linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2. The cylinder 24
may be slidably mounted using any number of suitable techniques. In
the illustrated embodiment, the cylinder 24 may be slidably mounted
via a guide rod 78 mounted to or on, and carried by, the base frame
16 or sub-frame 55. More particularly, and as best shown in FIG. 7,
a coupling 79 carried by the cylinder 24 is configured to slidably
mount the cylinder 24 to the guide rod 78. In an illustrative
embodiment, the coupling 79 may be carried by the underside or
bottom of the cylinder 24, and may include a slot or through bore
80 extending transversely relative to the axis 44 along which the
cylinder 24 travels. The bore 80 is sized and shaped to receive the
guide rod 78 and to allow the coupling 79, and therefore, the
cylinder 24, to travel or translate along the guide rod 78. In any
event, the cylinder 24 is able to be moved back and forth along the
same path or axis that the mold carrier 18 travels (i.e., axis 44).
In an embodiment, the guide rod 78 may also be configured to supply
fluid (e.g., air) to the cylinder 24, and as such, may be fluidly
coupled to and between a fluid source and the cylinder 24.
While in the embodiment described above, the cylinder 24 is
slidably mounted to or on the base frame 16 or sub-frame 55 via the
guide rod 78, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the
cylinder 24 may be slidably mounted using other techniques, or may
be arranged to simply move along the base frame 16 or sub-frame 55
(or another component of the operating mechanism 12) without being
slidably mounted to any particular guide. Accordingly, the present
disclosure is not limited to any particular arrangement for
facilitating the movement of the cylinder 24.
In addition to the above, the cylinder 24 has a longitudinal axis
81 that is parallel to the respective longitudinal axes 30, 38 of
the base frame 16 and mold carrier 18, and that is perpendicular or
transverse to the axis 44 along which the cylinder 24 and mold
carrier 18 travels, and includes further one or more piston rods
82. Each piston rod 82 has a proximal end 84 (best shown in FIG. 7)
disposed within the cylinder 24, and a distal end 86 (best shown in
FIG. 6) disposed external to the cylinder 24. The distal end 86 of
each piston rod 82 is coupled to a corresponding linkage 56 of the
drivetrain assembly 22. Each piston rod 82 is configured and
operable to be pulled outward from the cylinder 24 along the
cylinder axis 81 as, for example, the linkage 56 to which it is
coupled rotates or articulates in a first direction. Each piston
rod 82 is also configured and operable to be pushed inward into the
cylinder 24 along the axis 81 as the linkage 56 to which it is
coupled rotates or articulates in a second, opposite direction.
Accordingly, each of the piston rods 82 can be pushed and pulled
into and out of the cylinder 24 in response to the rotation or
articulation of the linkages 56 and dependent upon the direction of
that rotation or articulation.
In the illustrated embodiment, the cylinder 24 comprises a pair of
piston rods 82.sub.1, 82.sub.2, and therefore, comprises a dual
piston rod fluid cylinder. In this embodiment, each piston rod
82.sub.1, 82.sub.2 is coupled to a respective one of the linkages
56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 (i.e., the piston rod 82.sub.1 is coupled to the
linkage 56.sub.1, and the piston rod 82.sub.2 is coupled to the
linkage 56.sub.2). It will be appreciated that while the
description below will be primarily with respect to an embodiment
wherein the cylinder 24 includes two piston rods 82, the present
disclosure is not intended to be so limited. Rather, the number of
piston rods 82 that the cylinder 24 has may be dependent, at least
in part, on the number of linkages 56 that the drivetrain assembly
22 includes (e.g., one piston rod 82 for each linkage 56).
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is
not limited to any particular number of piston rods 82.
The piston rods 82.sub.1, 82.sub.2 of the cylinder 24 may be
coupled to the linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 in any number of
suitable ways. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
5-7, the piston rods 82t, 82.sub.2 may be coupled to the center
joint or knuckles 76 of the respectively linkage 56.sub.1,
56.sub.2. In such an embodiment, each of the piston rods 82.sub.1,
82.sub.2 may include an aperture at the distal end 86 thereof that
may be aligned with the apertures of the first and second lever
arms 70, 72 of the linkage 56 to which the piston rod is to be
coupled. Once aligned, the pin 74 may be inserted through the
apertures to hold the lever arms 70, 72 and piston rod 82 together.
It will be appreciated that while one particular way of coupling a
piston rod to a linkage has been described, any number of other
suitable techniques may be used, and therefore, the present
disclosure is not limited to any particular coupling
technique(s).
In addition to the above, in an embodiment, the cylinder 24 may be
selectively pressurized to cause the piston rod(s) 82 thereof to be
pushed outward from the cylinder 24, and then subsequently
de-pressurized to allow the piston rod(s) 82 to be pushed back into
the cylinder 24. In an embodiment, the operating mechanism 12 may
include a fluid source or supply 88 (shown diagrammatically in FIG.
1) that is configured and operable to selectively supply fluid, for
example, air, gas, hydraulic fluid or oil, or any other suitable
fluid, to the cylinder 24 to thereby pressurize the cylinder 24.
More particularly, in an embodiment, the ECU 14 of system 10 may be
configured to control the operation of the fluid source to
selectively supply fluid to the cylinder 24. In any event, the
cylinder 24 may include an inlet port to which an outlet port of
the fluid source may be fluidly coupled to supply fluid to the
cylinder 24. The cylinder 24 may include further a release or
relief valve 90 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1) that allows for
the fluid pressure in the cylinder 24 to be relieved to atmosphere.
In an embodiment, the release or relief valve 90 may be an
electrically controlled valve, a pneumatically controlled valve, or
any other suitable valve. In an embodiment, the opening and closing
of the valve may be controlled by the ECU 14 of the operating
mechanism 12; though the present disclosure is not limited to such
an embodiment.
Turning now to the ECU 14 of the system, the ECU 14 may include or
comprise any variety of electronic processing devices, memory
devices, input/output (I/O) devices, and/or other known components,
and may perform various control and/or communication related
functions. In an exemplary embodiment, the ECU 14 includes an
electronic memory 92 that stores information utilized to, for
example, control the operation of one or more components or
functions of the mold operating mechanism 12. The ECU 14 may also
include an electronic processor 94 (e.g., a microprocessor, a
microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC),
etc.) that executes instructions for software, firmware, programs,
algorithms, scripts, etc. stored in the memory 92 and may govern
and perform the processes and methods described herein. The ECU 14
may be electronically connected to other components of the system
10 (e.g., the powertrain assembly 20 and fluid source 88 of the
operating mechanism 12, for example) via one or more wired or
wireless connections across which that or those components and the
ECU 14 may communicate and interact, as required. Additionally,
depending on the particular embodiment, the ECU 14 may be a
stand-alone unit or may be incorporated or included within another
unit or module of the glassware forming machine. Accordingly, the
ECU 14 is not limited to any one particular embodiment or
arrangement.
As briefly described above, the ECU 14 may be configured to govern
or control the operation of certain components of the operating
mechanism 12. For example, the ECU 14 may be configured to control
the powertrain assembly 20, and the operation of the motor 46
thereof in particular (e.g., the ECU 14 may be configured to
control when the motor 46 is activated and deactivated, and the
particular direction in which the motor output rotates). The ECU 14
may additionally or alternatively be configured to control the
pressurization of the cylinder 24 by controlling the operation of
one or both of the fluid source 88 of the operating mechanism 12
and the release or relief valve 90 of the cylinder 24. Accordingly,
the ECU 14 may be configured to exert at least a measure of control
over one or more components of the system 10 and operating
mechanism 12 thereof, in particular, including, but not limited to,
those identified above.
With particular reference to embodiment of the mold operating
mechanism 12 illustrated FIGS. 1-7, and the example of a method 100
of actuating (i.e., closing and opening) a mold operating mechanism
illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the operation of the operating
mechanism 12 will now be described.
Upon a determination that the mold carrier 18 has to be moved from
an open position to a closed position or vice versa, the ECU 14 may
activate the powertrain assembly 20, thereby causing the output of
the motor 46 thereof to rotate (step 102 in FIG. 8). The particular
direction of the rotation will depend on whether the mold carrier
18 is to be moved into an open or closed position, and the
particular arrangement of the operating mechanism 12. Assuming that
the mold carrier 18 is in the open position and is to be moved into
the closed position, and that the operating mechanism 12 is
arranged in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the rotation of
the motor output is in the counterclockwise direction.
As the motor output rotates, it drives the gearset 52 of the
drivetrain assembly 22 (step 104 in FIG. 8). More particularly, as
the motor output rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the
drive gear 58 of the gearset 52 operatively coupled to the output
of the motor 46 via the drivetrain coupling 48 also rotates in the
counterclockwise direction. The rotation of the drive gear 58
directly drives the rotation of both the driven gear 60.sub.1 and
the idler gear 62 in the clockwise direction. The rotation of the
idler gear 62 in the clockwise direction drives the rotation of the
second driven gear 60.sub.2 in the counterclockwise direction
(i.e., which is opposite the direction of rotation of the first
driven gear 60.sub.1).
As the first and second driven gears 60.sub.1, 60.sub.2
respectively rotate in the clockwise and counterclockwise
directions, the operating shafts 54.sub.1, 54.sub.2 operatively
coupled to the driven gears 60.sub.1, 60.sub.2, respectively, also
respectively rotate in the clockwise and counterclockwise
directions (step 106 in FIG. 8). The rotation of the operating
shafts 54.sub.1, 54.sub.2 causes the rotation or articulation of
the linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 respectively coupled to the
operating shafts 54.sub.1, 54.sub.2 (step 108 in FIG. 8).
Accordingly, the clockwise rotation of the operating shaft 54.sub.1
causes the clockwise rotation or articulation of the linkage
56.sub.1, and the first lever arm 70 thereof, in particular.
Similarly, the counterclockwise rotation of the operating shaft
54.sub.2 causes the counterclockwise rotation or articulation of
the linkage 56.sub.2, and the first lever arm 70 thereof, in
particular. As illustrated in FIG. 6, as the linkages 56.sub.1,
56.sub.2 rotate or articulate, the lever arms 70, 72 thereof extend
outwardly, with the second lever arm 72 of the linkage 56.sub.1
pivoting in a counterclockwise direction about center joint or
knuckle 76 of the linkage 56.sub.1, and the second lever arm 72 of
the linkage 56.sub.2 pivoting in a clockwise direction about the
center joint or knuckle 76 of the linkage 56.sub.2. The rotation or
articulation of the linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 and the extension
of the lever arms 70, 72 thereof, causes the mold carrier 18
coupled to the second lever arms 72 to be pushed outwardly (i.e.,
away from the base frame 16) along the axis 44 (step 110 in FIG.
8). In addition, as the linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 rotate or
articulate and the lever arms thereof extend, the piston rods
82.sub.1, 82.sub.2 respectively coupled to the linkages 56.sub.1,
56.sub.2 are pulled outward from the cylinder 24 along the axis 81,
and the cylinder 24 is dragged outwardly along the axis 44 and the
guide rod 78 (step 112 in FIG. 8).
After the mold carrier 18 has traveled or moved a predetermined
distance and/or reached a predetermined position, the cylinder 24
is pressurized. Accordingly, in an embodiment, a determination is
made as to whether the mold carrier 18 has reached a certain
position (step 114 in FIG. 8) using any number of suitable
techniques known in the art, and if so, then the cylinder 24 is
pressurized (step 116 in FIG. 8). In an embodiment, the ECU 14 is
configured to determine when the mold carrier 18 has reached the
predetermined position and to then activate the fluid source 88 of
the operating mechanism 12 to pressurize the cylinder 24.
More particularly, the mold carrier 18 may be moved to a
predetermined position and stopped. This predetermined position may
be an empirically-derived position that is stored, for example, in
the electronic memory 92 of the ECU 14, and motor encoders
associated with the motor 46 and/or displacement measurements of
the mold carrier 18 can be used to determine when the mold carrier
18 has reached the predetermined position. In an embodiment where
two operating mechanisms 12 operate together to open and close the
molds 40, the mold carrier 18 of each operating mechanism 12 may be
independently moved to a predetermined position and stopped as
described above. In such an embodiment, when the two mold carriers
18 have reached the predetermined position(s), the motors 46 of the
powertrain assemblies 20 of the respective operating mechanisms 12
may apply or supply clamping pressure to the mold carriers 18, and
then the cylinders 24 of the operating mechanisms 12 may be
pressurized. Alternatively, the mold carrier 18 of one of the two
operating mechanisms 12 may be moved to a predetermined location in
the manner described above, and the mold carrier 18 of the second
operating mechanism 12 may be moved until it contacts the mold
carrier 18 of the first operating mechanism 12, at which time it
can be determined that the mold carriers 18 have both reached a
predetermined position. The motors 46 of the operating mechanisms
12 may apply or supply clamping pressure to the mold carriers 18,
and then the cylinders 24 of the operating mechanisms 12 may be
pressurized.
In any event, and as described above, the pressurization of the
cylinder 24 causes the piston rods 82.sub.1, 82.sub.2 to be pushed
further outward from the cylinder 24, thereby resulting in the
application of clamping pressure to the linkages 56.sub.1,
56.sub.2, and therefore, the mold carrier 18, in addition to any
clamping pressure applied or supplied by the motor 46 to force the
mold carrier 18 to the closed position. Once in the closed
position, the mold(s) 40 carried on the mold carrier 18 may be used
to form one or more parisons or to perform one or more other steps
of the glassware forming process.
When it is determined that the mold(s) 40 should once again be
opened, the mold carrier 18 may be moved from the closed position
to the open position. In an embodiment, this may be accomplished by
performing the methodology described above in the exact reverse
order or at least substantially the reverse order.
For example, and with reference FIG. 9, the cylinder 24 may first
be de-pressurized (step 118 in FIG. 9) by opening, for example, one
or more relief or release valves 90 of the cylinder 24. In an
embodiment, the ECU 14 may be configured to cause the valve(s) 90
to open causing the fluid pressure in the cylinder to be relieved
to atmosphere. The de-pressurization of the cylinder 24 may cause
the piston rods 82.sub.1, 82.sub.2 to move inward relative to the
cylinder 24 (i.e., the piston rods 82.sub.1, 82.sub.2 may move back
into the cylinder 24), thereby releasing the clamping pressure
applied to the linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 by the cylinder 24
Contemporaneous with, or subsequent to, the de-pressurization of
the cylinder 24, the ECU 14 may activate the powertrain assembly 20
and the motor output may be rotated in the appropriate direction,
which, in the embodiment of the operating mechanism 12 illustrated
in FIGS. 1-7, is the clockwise direction (step 120 in FIG. 9). The
rotation of the motor output first releases the clamping pressure
applied or supplied to the mold carrier 18 by the powertrain
assembly 20 (e.g., the motor 46), and then facilitates the opening
of the molds 40, as will be described more fully below.
As the motor output rotates in the clockwise direction, it drives
the gearset 52 of the drivetrain assembly 22 (step 122 in FIG. 9).
More particularly, as the motor output rotates in the clockwise
direction, the drive gear 58 of the gearset 52 operatively coupled
to the motor output via the drivetrain coupling 48 also rotates in
the clockwise direction. The rotation of the drive gear 58 drives
the rotation of both the driven gear 60.sub.1 and the idler gear 62
in the counterclockwise direction; and the rotation of the idler
gear 62 in the counterclockwise direction drives the rotation of
the second driven gear 60.sub.2 in the clockwise direction (i.e.,
which is opposite the direction of rotation of the first driven
gear 60.sub.1).
As the driven gears 60.sub.1, 60.sub.2 respectively rotate in the
counterclockwise and clockwise directions, the operating shafts
54.sub.1, 54.sub.2 operatively coupled to the driven gears
60.sub.1, 60.sub.2, respectively, also respectively rotate in the
counterclockwise and clockwise directions (step 124 in FIG. 9). The
rotation of the operating shafts 54.sub.1, 54.sub.2 causes the
rotation or articulation of the linkages 56.sub.1, 56.sub.2
respectively coupled to the operating shafts 54.sub.1, 54.sub.2
(step 126 in FIG. 9). Accordingly, the counterclockwise rotation of
the operating shaft 54.sub.1 causes the counterclockwise rotation
or articulation of the linkage 56.sub.1, and the first lever arm 70
thereof, in particular, and the clockwise rotation of the operating
shaft 54.sub.2 causes the clockwise rotation or articulation of the
linkage 56.sub.2, and the first lever arm 70 thereof, in
particular. As illustrated in FIG. 5, as the linkages 56.sub.1,
56.sub.2 rotate, the lever arms 70, 72 thereof retract inwardly,
with the second lever arm 72 of the linkage 56.sub.1 pivoting in a
clockwise direction about center joint or knuckle 76 of the linkage
56.sub.1, and the second lever arm 72 of the linkage 56.sub.2
pivoting in a counterclockwise direction about the center joint or
knuckle 76 of the linkage 56.sub.2. The rotation of the linkages
56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 and the retraction of the lever arms 70, 72
thereof causes the mold carrier 18 coupled to the second lever arms
72 to be pulled inwardly (i.e., towards the base frame 16) along
the axis 44 (step 128 in FIG. 9). In addition, as the linkages
56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 rotate and the lever arms thereof retract, the
piston rods 82.sub.1, 82.sub.2 coupled respectively to the linkages
56.sub.1, 56.sub.2 are pushed inward into the cylinder 24 along the
axis 81, and the cylinder 24 is dragged inwardly along the axis 44
and the guide rod 78 (step 130 in FIG. 9).
The powertrain assembly 20 continues to operate causing the mold
carrier 18 to be pulled inwardly until it is has reached the
desired open position, at which time the powertrain assembly 20 may
be deactivated, thereby stopping the movement of the mold carrier
18. Accordingly, in an embodiment, a determination is made as to
whether the mold carrier 18 has reached the desired open position
(step 132 in FIG. 9), and if so, the powertrain assembly 20, and
the motor 46 thereof, in particular, is deactivated (step 134 in
FIG. 9). In an embodiment, the ECU 14 is configured to determine
when the mold carrier 18 has reached the desired open position, and
to then deactivate the powertrain assembly 20. This determination
may be made using any number of known techniques known in the art.
For example, and as described above with respect to the closing of
the molds 40, motor encoders associated with the motor 46 of the
powertrain assembly 20 and/or displacement measurements of the
carrier 18 may be used to determine when the mold carrier has
reached a predetermined position, which, in an embodiment, may be
an empirically-derived position stored in, for example, the memory
92 of the ECU 14.
There thus has been disclosed a system for use with a glassware
forming machine that fully satisfy one or more of the objects and
aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in
conjunction with several illustrative embodiments, and additional
modifications and variations have been discussed. Other
modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to
persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing
discussion. For example, the subject matter of each of the
embodiments is hereby incorporated by reference into each of the
other embodiments, for expedience. The disclosure is intended to
embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the
spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *